Curse

Zeddy · Sep 28, 2006, 03:43 AM // 03:43

So I decided to see if the (for me) less used Elites in Factions, like Power Leech, was entirely useless or if they had any worth at all.
This build is a kind of shutdown-build, and it was interesting to see that although Power Leech may not be all that great still it wasn't entirely useless and worked quite well sometimes.

I used a Me/Mo with full Rouge armor and a Superior Inspiration Rune. Domination skill recharge Wand with +5 energy and Inspiration Recharge Focus with +30 health was used as well.

Attributes:

Domination: 13
Fast Casting: 9
Inspiration: 14

Skills:

Ether Feast
Energy Burn
Feedback
Power Leech
Mind Wrack
Spirit Shackles
Spirit of Failure
Resurrection Signet

Spirit of Failure, Spirit Shackles and Mind Wrack are to be used against melee-classes. Melee-classes are pretty much shutdown this way and will provide you with some needed energy. Spirit Shackles is especially devastating to Assasins since they rely on power for their combos.
Power Leech, Mind Wrack and Energy burn are to be used against caster-classes and monks.
Mind Wrack is there as a cover hex for Power Leech, as well as the possibility to do some damage should the target's energy drop to 0.

You can use the Power Leech and Mind Wrack combo against other casters, although if there is a monk on the enemy team you should try to target him/her. Monks can't always afford to sit out the 10 seconds without healing their teammates or themselves in RA, thus you'll steal energy from them with Power Leech. You should be able to interrupt skills like Blessed Light, Gift of Health, Guardian, Inspired Hex, Mend Condition/Ailment, Mantra of Recall etc. with Power Leech and then cover it up with Mind Wrack. Hit the monk with Energy burn and Feedback (if he/she has an enchantment) to steal additional energy. If all goes well the monk (or caster) should run out of power and your "hopefully-competent" party-members will be able to kill the monk or the rest of the enemy team easier.

Feedback is to counter some monks' ability to get rid of Power Leech by using Contemplation of Purity. If they use inspired hex on themselves after you've hit them with the Power Leech and Mind Wrack cover just hit them with another Mind Wrack. The recharge on Power Leech is 15 seconds so if you're good with interrupts you could keep it up on the monk/caster fairly consistantly.

Edited to reflect new changes in build.

Hella Good · Sep 28, 2006, 04:01 AM // 04:01

It's not worth it... I really do applaud you for your desire to make a build centered around this skill and by all means what you are proposing sounds extremely plausible- nice work on the choice of skills, hexes all have covers, you got good nrg management (maybe feedback instead of tap), and a self heal, and it does work like a well thought of build. However, Power Leech simply doesn't cut it... There is no reason to try to squeeze some use out of it, it's simply a bad skill. But again, good work on the build.

Zeddy · Sep 28, 2006, 04:09 AM // 04:09

I know, and I agree, it is a bad skill. However I was somewhat surprised it wasn't entirely useless though. I don't see any use of it right now except playing around in Random Arenas.

Hella Good · Sep 28, 2006, 04:14 AM // 04:14

Hey in randoms anything goes. I was using Spoil Victor on my Necro the other day. It worked fine, we got pretty far.

Zeddy · Sep 28, 2006, 04:25 AM // 04:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hella Good

Hey in randoms anything goes. I was using Spoil Victor on my Necro the other day. It worked fine, we got pretty far.

Word! You could probably even find use for Lyssa's Aura seeing as you are targetted quite often by casters on the other team.

lightblade · Sep 28, 2006, 05:21 AM // 05:21

Rating: 7.5/10

In this case, you'll want to have Power Leech push to -/+7 energy. Energy Burn can stay -7. And keep away from the Superior Runes, majors are the best.

Avarre · Sep 28, 2006, 01:04 PM // 13:04

I would definitely go with feast, I've found it more useful in general than breeze.

ubermancer · Sep 28, 2006, 04:39 PM // 16:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by Avarre

I would definitely go with feast, I've found it more useful in general than breeze.

Why? Surely you want to spec 9 healing for one self heal over time while your major attribute line has a direct heal that subs for edenial.

Avarre · Sep 29, 2006, 05:42 AM // 05:42

I'm just posting here to make sure nobody thinks ubermancer is literally being correct.

Master Fuhon · Sep 29, 2006, 07:38 AM // 07:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by ubermancer

Why? Surely you want to spec 9 healing for one self heal over time while your major attribute line has a direct heal that subs for edenial.

I'd drop healing down to 8 to reach the break point for +3 Mending. But I'd only be doing this to make Mesmers look bad, since they can spec to brutally shutdown either melee or casters with ease.

I'd recommend that you take the instant healing from Ether Feast over Healing Breeze, since alot of assassins are going to come after you after realizing you are planning to Shack/Wrack them. Assassin damage comes as a spike, and the degen from bleeding/poison is only there to make sure the highest threat goes down the first time.

Hella Good · Sep 29, 2006, 02:51 PM // 14:51

Did I hear Mending? On a Mesmer?

Zeddy · Sep 30, 2006, 09:34 AM // 09:34

Yeah Mending is always good to have. Make sure you have a staff or weapon with +20% longer enchantments though to make it last longer.

Shadow Slave · Oct 02, 2006, 01:44 AM // 01:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zeddy

Yeah Mending is always good to have. Make sure you have a staff or weapon with +20% longer enchantments though to make it last longer.

Please settle my mind and tell me that you are joking....

Desires · Oct 02, 2006, 04:01 AM // 04:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zeddy

Yeah Mending is always good to have. Make sure you have a staff or weapon with +20% longer enchantments though to make it last longer.

Also make sure you bring echo. If you echo mending your definatly going to win.

Zeddy · Oct 02, 2006, 08:43 AM // 08:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shadow Slave

Please settle my mind and tell me that you are joking....

with the "

" I thought it was pretty obvious but...mkay.

Shadow Slave · Oct 02, 2006, 09:53 AM // 09:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zeddy

with the "

" I thought it was pretty obvious but...mkay.

mmmm...nope. apparently not. But now i'll sleep easy ~ appreciated.

Avarre · Oct 02, 2006, 11:30 AM // 11:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by Desires

Also make sure you bring echo. If you echo mending your definatly going to win.

Signet Of Illusions for super-powered mesmer mending! With illusion'ed blessed aura (for super duration) and echo, thou art unstoppable.

But really, there's no reason to run a selfheal in another attribute. End of discussion - waste of points, and breeze is a poor heal when under direct fire.

Foppe · Oct 02, 2006, 02:21 PM // 14:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hella Good

Hey in randoms anything goes. I was using Spoil Victor on my Necro the other day. It worked fine, we got pretty far.

Spoil victor isnt that bad at all..